Device for cleaning smoking pipes



March 10, 1931. w. R. DAVIS DEVICE FOR CLEANING SMOKING PIPES Filed Aug. 30, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l w 4 m nnnn lav 7 Z z ma m m W 1 2 I t I 2.; a J J OYIL\\- d a m C W ..,Q.......JI.- w d Z 2 w 7 J ATTORNEYS March 10, 1931. w R DAVIS 1,796,188

DEVICE FOR CLEANING SMOKiNGPIPE'S Filed Ailg. so, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FL 29 78 V INVENTOR Wzi/mm Rflans ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 10, 1931 UNETE'D STATES WILLIAM: R. DAVIS, OF WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY DEVICE FOR CLEANING SMOKING- PIPES Application filed August 30, 1928.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a compact device for safely and efficiently cutting or grinding out the hard deposit which accumulates in the bowl of a '5 pipe. After prolonged use of the pipe this deposit becomes very thick upon the walls of the bowl, materially reducing the capacity offthe latter. The deposit is so hard that it is practically impossible to remove it by a 10 knife or other tool available to the average smoker. Frequently the bowl is split by attempts to clean it with unsuitable tools. The smoker is practically compelled, therefore, to leave his pipe at the shop of a professional grinder and repair man to have the bowl properly ground out. This is often inconvenient and it'deprives the smoker of his seasoned. pipe for a longer period than he cares to be without it. Also, these shops are often very unsanitary. The present invention contemplates the provision of a small, portable,.unitary grinding device which will enable the smoker to perform the grinding operation easily and satisfactorily and without damage to the pipe.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

' In. the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.;

Fig. 2 atop plan view ofthe device with a=pipe supported therein for grinding;

Fig. 3 a horizontal section. taken onthe line 83 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 an enlarged detail side view of the grinding tool in a contracted'adjustment;

Fig. 5 a vertical section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4';

Fig. 6 a view similarto Fig. 4 showing the tool expanded; v i

- Fig. 7' a detail. view ofthe two grinding blades of the tool removed from their mount- 8 a plan view of the grinding device equipped with a modified tool-feeding mechanism; I

Fig. 9 an enlarged detail side elevationlof a modified form of grinding tool;

Fig. 10 .a view similar to Fig. 9- with the Serial No. 303,078.

tool expanded and the adjusting means in section; 7

Fig. 11 a detail view of one of the-blades of the modified form of tool removed from its mounting; and

Fig. 12 a vertical section taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 9.

The grinding device includes a rigidcagelike frame 1 preferably formed of a single casting. This frame comprises a top plate or head 2, a bottom plate 3 and three vertical webs 4 equally spaced around the' vertical axis of the frame and holding the upper and lower plates spaced apart. The lower plate 3 is formed at its under side with feet 5 to support the frame slightly elevated above a support. Between two of the webs 4 the lower plate 3 is formed with an extension 6 which extends outwardly and then upwardly and is formed with a substantially V-shaped notch 7 to receive the stem of a pipe mounted in the frame for a grinding operation as will bedescribed' hereinafter.

A grinding tool 8 provided with an elongated, threaded shank 9 is mounted at the upper end of the frame 1 for rotary movement and for vertical axial movement along the-frame axis. The mounting for the tool includes an internally threaded sleeve or bushing 10 formed with a cylindrical medial portion rotatably fitted in a central bearing opening 11 inthe top plate 2. At its upper end the sleeve 10 is formed with an enlarged head 12 which abuts the upper surface of the plate 2. The lower end of the sleeve is threaded and shouldered and a nut 13 is screwed. upon it below the plate 2 to abut the shoulder. The sleeve is thereby held against axial movement but permitted to rotate in the bearing opening 11. One of the webs 4 of the frame is formed with an extension14 spaced below the top plate 2, extending inwardly parallel to the latter and formed at its inner end with an opening 15 in alinement with the threaded axial opening 16 of the sleeve 10. The shank 9 of the tool passes freely through the opening 15 which is unthreaded, and is then screwed through the threaded sleeve opening 16.

Between the frame extension 14 and. the

axially through it.

sleeve 10 is mounted a worm wheel 17. The latter is provided with a central unthreaded opening through which the tool shank passes freely and is provided with a key or spline 18 which slidably fits in a longitudinal slot or key way 19 formed in the tool shank. The worm wheel is thereby keyed to rotate with the tool shank but permits the latter to move Mounted upon two of the webs 4 of the frame in the plane of the worm wheel are alining bearing members 20 in which a drive shaft 21 is mountedto rotate. This shaft is held against endwise movement and has a worm 22 fixed upon it and meshing with the worm wheel 17. Oneend of the shaft extends outwardly beyond the frame 1 and has an operating crank 23 fixed to it.

At thelower end of the frame 1 is an adj ustable support for the bowl of a pipe. This support comprises a screw 24 threaded upwa'rdly through a central opening 25in the lower frame plate 3, provided with a knurled head at its lowerend and having a block-like member 26 swiveled upon its upper'end. The member 26 is concave at its upper surface to fit the concave lower surface of a pipe bowl and the inner end of the stem. At a suitable distance above said bowl support the frame 1 carries clamping means for holding the bowl 1n proper position with relation to the tool 8. The three webs 4 are formed withthree threaded openings 27 all in the same plane and extending radially with respect to the frame axis. Threaded through the openings 27 are screws 28 each provided at its outer end with a knurled head 29 and having a clampmg shoe 30 swiveled upon its inner end, These shoes have concave inner surfaces to lit the sides of the pipe bowl adjacent the upper edge thereof.

The grinding tool 8 includes a. pair of blades 31 and a mounting for them at the lower end of the shank 9. This mounting comprlsesa block-like member 32 fixed to the lower end of the shank and recessed at one side to receive a plate like section 33 which is removably held to the block adjacent its'upper edge by two screws 34; The block and plate are formed with opposed vertical faces which are fiat and bear against each other at their upper areas as at 35. Below said contacting areas the said opposed surfaces are recessed as at 36 and 37 to receive the blades '31 between them. The recess 36 has an in clined upper wall 38 and a groove 39 extend-- The recess 37 has an upper wall 4O inclined to the same degree as the wall 38 ing along it.

butin the opposite direction and a similar groove 41, the longitudinal edges of said walls intersecting atthe axis of the tool. The blades- 31 are in theform of flatplates both of the same shape and size." Each has a wide upper edge 42 inclined to the same degree as the recess walls 38 and 40, a rib 43 extending along theupper edge and adapted to slidably fit in either of the grooves 39 and 41, and a beveled cutting edge 44 which extends straight downwardly from the higher end of the inclined edge 42" and curves inwardly to meet a vertical edge 45 which extends downwardly from the center of the upper widened portion of the blade.

The blades are fitted in the recesses 36 and 37 in reversed positions and in face to face contact with their upper edges in contact with the inclined walls of the recesses and their ribs 43 are disposed in the recess grooves 39 and 41. The opposed walls of the blades and recesses are smooth and the blades are adapted to slide inwardly and outwardly obliquely to vary the grinding radius of the tool. Due to the form of the blades and their guides these adjustments do not change the angularity of the cutting edges of the blades. When the blades have been properly adjusted they are held by a'set screw 46 which is threaded through an opening in the plate section 33 of the tool head and is adapted to bear against one of the blades and press it into binding contact with the other blade.

Mounted upon the top plate 2 of the frame 1 is a detent to prevent turning of the threaded tool-holding sleeve 12. This detent is in the form of a leaf spring 47 fixed at one end to a lug formed upon the plate 2, and provided with a tooth 48 adapted to enter any one of a plurality of small peripheral cavities 49 formed in the head 12 of the sleeve. The tooth is formed with a rounded surface whereby it will-be cammed out of the cavities 49 when the turning strain upon the sleeve lOexceeds a certain degree, as will be described presently. At its free end the spring 47 is provided with a knob 50 for manually releasing the detent when desired.

In the use of the device the pipe bowl which is to be ground out is inserted between the ribs 4 and into the cage-like frame and the stem of the pipe is disposed in the V-shaped notch 7 to prevent the pipe from turning. The form of the latter adapts it to fit stems'of difierent sizes and the screw 24 is turned to vertically adjust thebowl suppipe bowl and prevent the stem from wedging in the notch 7. The screws 28 are next turned to force the clamping shoes 30 into firm engagement with the sides of the bowl. The tool blades 31 are given a contracted adjustment to facilitate their entrance into the pipe bowl, and the crank 23 is turned to rotate the shaft 21, worm 22, worm wheel 17 and tool 8.

Assuming. that the threaded tool-holding sleeve 10is held by the detent47 the tool will be fed downwardly when it is rotated, its shank passing through the worm wheel which is held against axial movement. The deposit within the'pipe bowl often becomes very thick and greatly reduces the diameter 7 of the" space inthe bowl. The rounded low er' edges of the blades 31 give the tool a tapered form and enables its lower'endto-enter the restricted space in the bowl and effectively engage the deposit for the grinding operation. Continued rotation and advance ofthe, screw will grind out the deposit ancenlarge the bowl space clear to-the bottom of the bowl to a degree dependent upon the adjustment of the blades. \Vhen a first cutting has been made by the contracted tool the crank 23 is rotated in a reverse direction to retract the tool from the bowl. The tool is then expanded for another cutting and the grinding operation is repeated. This may be continuedand repeated: until the entire deposit has been ground from the bowl. The

. ground off deposit may be removed from the pipe bowl between the grinding stages by inverting the device. During the grinding; the clamping shoes 30, which are of material width and equally spaced around the pipe bowl, maintain a compression on the latter to prevent its bursting.

If the deposit is extremely hard axial feed-of the tool will automatically cease and prevent injurious strain upon the tool, the driving mechanism and the pipe bowl. This is accomplished bythe detent 47, the grinding resistance causing an upward thrust upon the tool shank which thrust istransmitted to the threaded sleeve 10 tending to bind it to the shank. When the turning stress upon the sleeve becomes sufficient to overcome the spring resistance of the detent 47 the tooth 48 of thelatter will be cammed to release positionand permit the sleeve'to turn with the tool shanki This will halt the axial feed of the tool so that it will grind by rotation only. When the grinding strain is I sufiiciently relieved the spring. detentwill again hold the sleeve 1.0 and the feed of the tool will be automatically resumed.

By releasing the detent which locks the sleeve 10, said sleeve may be freely rotated by hand in either direction. This-permits the threaded shank 9 carrying the cutter to be rapidly advanced to the pipe bowl and quickly retracted therefrom. The worm wheel 17 will holdthe threaded shank against rotation and the rotation: of the threaded sleeve will cause the shank to move up or down without rotation. 1 During this operation the worm wheel 17 remains stationary.

In Fig. Sis shown a modified means for Here a detent 51' is pivoted upon thetop of the frame 1' and is adapted to be swung manually through a vertical arc to engage and disengage cavities 52 formed in the upper face of the threaded tool-holding sleeve 10 .A modified form of rindin tool is shown in Figs. 9"to-12". The tool head 53 is fork shaped and theblades 54 are pivoted within the fork upon a screw 55. A sleeve-like nut 56 isthreaded upon" the tool shank 9 just above the fork and is formed to extend around the latter. Each of the blades is in theform of a plate having a pivot opening adjacent its upper end to receive the pivot 55, a straight upper edge 57 extending 11adia-lly outward from the pivot opening to underlie the lower edge of the nut 56, and a cutting'edge 58 at its lower end rounded in contour. A straight side edge 59 extends etween the upper and lower edges 57 and 58 and the opposite side of the blade is cut away to provide clearance for the lower edge of the nut 56when the blade is swung out as shown in Fig. 10. The blades are of the same shape and size and are reversely disposed in the fork. lVhen the nut 56 is in an upper or retracted position the blades hang straight from their pivot and their lower edges form a semicircular arc. bowed spring 60 within the fork extends around the pivot and engages both blades to hold them in these straight down positions. When the tool is to be expanded to increase its grinding radius the nut 56 is screwed to enter a pipe bowl and grind out a deposit therein; means carried by said frame supporting said tool for rotation and axialmovement through the pipe bowl; means carried by the frame to hold the pipe bowl in proper relation to the tool; means to manually rotate the tool; and manually adjust-able means carried by the frame to either cause or stop the axial movement of the tool when the latter is rotated.

2. A- device for grindingv out smoking pipes, comprising a frame; a grinding tool to enter a pipe bowl and grind out a deposit therein; means carried by said frame supporting'said tool for rotation and. axialmovement through the pipe bowl; means carried by the frame to hold the pipe bowl in proper relation to the tool; means to manually rorate the tool; and means carried by the frame to either cause or stop the axial movement ofthe tool when the latter is rotated.

3. A device for grinding out smoking pipes, comprising a. grinding tool mounted for rotation and axial movement through a pipe bowl to grind out a deposittherein; means to support said tool and the pipe bowl in proper relative positions for the grinding lit) out' smoking pipes, comprising a frame; a grinding tool comprising a threaded shank and a blade 'adjustably and removably mounted upon one end of the shank to enter a pipe bowl-and grind out a deposit therein; threaded means carried by said frame supporting the tool shank for rotation and axial movement; manually operable clamping 7 means carried by the frame to engage and hold the pipe bowl in proper relation to the tool for the grinding operation; a worm wheel upon the tool shank fixed to'rotate with it but permitting relative axial move A vment of the shank; a worm carried by the frame and engaging theworm wheel; means to manually turn sa1d worm for rotating the tool; and means to either cause or stop axial comprising a threaded shank and a blade adrotated.

movement of the tool when the latter is 5. A device for vgrinding out smoking p1pes,, compr1s1ng a frame; avgrinding tool justably and removably mounted upon one end of the shank to enter a pipe bowl and grind out a deposit therein; threaded means carried by said frame supporting the tool shank for rotation and axial movement; manually operable clamping means carried by the frame to engage and hold tr e pipe bowl in proper relation to the tool for the grinding operation; a worm wheel upon the tool shank fixed to rotate'with it but permitprovided with a threaded shank screwed into said bushing; manually operable means to rotate the threaded shank and the tool for the grinding operation; and releasable means to hold the bushing against turning and cause axial movement of the tool when I the latter is rotated.

7. A device for grinding out smoking pipes, comprising a rotatably mounted internally threaded bushing; a grinding tool provided with a threaded shank screwed into said bushing; manually operable means to rotate the threaded shank and the tool for the grinding operation; and releasable means to hold the bushing against turning and cause axial movement of the rotated tool when the. grinding strain is below a predetermined degree and to automatically release the bushing and permit it'to turn with the tool when said' degree of strain is exceeded. V r

8. A device for grinding out smoking'pipes,

comprising a frame; pipe holding means; a

threaded tool shank carrying a grindingctool on one end; a reduction gearing mounted in the frame and connected to the tool shank for slowly rotating the shank to advance it during the grinding operation, said gearing looking the shank against rotation independently of the gearing and permitting itto move axially toward and from the pipe bowl without rotation; a rotatable sleeve carried by the frame and threaded on the tool shank whereby the tool shank may be quickly advanced toward the pipe bowl and quickly retracted therefrom without rotation by turning the threaded sleeve and means to lock the threaded sleeve against rotation to cause the grinding tool toadvance in the grinding operation when the reduction gearing is operated, said locking'means being releasable to permit the sleeve to be rotated to quickly reciprocate the grinding tool Without rotating the reduction gearing.

9. A device for grinding out smoking pipes, comprising a vertical frame; a threaded tool shank; an adjustable grinding tool on the lower end of said shank; a; reduction gearing mounted inthe upper end of said frame and connected to the tool shank for slowly rotating the shank to advance it during the grinding operation, said gearing locking the shank against rotation independently of the gearing and permitting it to move axially toward and from the pipe bowl'without rotation; a rotatable sleeve carried by the frame at its upper end and threaded'on the tool shank whereby the tool shank may be quickly advanced toward the pipe'bowl and quickly retracted therefrom without rotation by turning the threaded sleeve; means to lock the threaded sleeve to the frame against rotation to cause the grinding tool to advance in the grinding operation when the reduction gearing is operated, said locking means being releasable to permit the sleeve to be rotated to quickly reciprocate the grinding tool without rotating thereduction gearing; and an adjustable clamping means at the lower end of the frame to hold the pipe with its bowl opening upwardly and in alinement with the grinding tool. I l

10. A device for grinding out smoking pipes, comprising a frame; pipe holding means; a threaded tool shank carrying a grinding tool on one end; a reduction gearing mounted in the frame and connected to the tool shank for slowly rotating the shank to advance it during the grinding operation, said gearing locking the shank againstrotation independently of the gearing and permitting it to move axially toward and from the pipe bowl without rotation; and a threaded device carried by the frame and normally held to cause axial movement of the shank when the shank is rotated, and releasable to permit quick axial movement of the shanktoward and from the pipe bowl without rotating the shan Y c I 11. A device for grinding the bowls of smoking pipes, comprising a vertical open frame; means to support said frame upright; a threaded shank supported in a vertical position at the top of said frame; a grinding tool on the lower end of said shank and within the frame; a reduction gearing mounted in the upper part of said frame and connected to the tool shank for rotating and slowly advancing said shank downwardly during the grinding operation; means for operating said gearing; means for retracting the shank without rotating it; and adjustable clamping and centering means in the lower part of the frame to engage the upper part of the pipe bowl and center it within the frame in axial line with the tool shank and resist outward bursting strains on the pipe bowl, said clamping means holding the bowl with its open end upward, whereby the bowl serves as a container for the ground-out material.

12. A grinding device comprising a frame; a threaded shank carrying a cutter blade upon one end; a threaded bushing rotatably mounted in the frame and through which the tool shank is threaded; means for looking the threaded sleeve to the frame to hold it against rotation or to free it for rotation in the frame; a worm wheel upon the tool shank fixed to rotate with it and to permit relative axial movement of the shank through the said wheel; a worm carried by the frame and engaging the worm wheel; means to manually turn said worm for rotating the tool when the sleeve is locked; and manually operable clamping means carried by the frame to engage and hold a pipe bowl in proper relation to the tool for the grinding operation.

13. A device for grinding pipes, comprising an upright frame; a threaded shank carrying'a cutter blade upon its lower end and vertically arranged in the frame; a threaded bushing rotatably mounted in the frame and through which the tool shank is threaded; means'for locking the threaded sleeve to the frame to hold it against rotation or to free it for rotation in the frame; a worm wheel upon the tool shank fixed to rotate with it and to permit relative axial movement of the shank through the said wheel; a worm carried by the frame and engaging the worm wheel; means to manually turn said worm for rotating the tool when the sleeve is locked; and manually operable clamping means carried by the lower end of the frame to engage and hold a pipe bowl upright in proper relation to receive the tool for the grinding operation. r p

14. A device for grinding pipes, comprising an upright frame; a threaded shank carrying an adjustable cutter blade upon its lower end and vertically arranged in the frame; a threaded bushing rotatably mounted in the frame and through which the tool shank is threaded; means for locking the threaded sleeve to the frame to hold it against rotation or to free it for rotation in the frame; a worm wheel upon the tool shank fixed to rotate with it and to permit relative axial movement of the shank through the said wheel; a worm carried by the frame and engaging the worm wheel; means to manually turn said worm for rotating the tool when the sleeve is locked; and manually operable adjustable clamping means carried by the lower end of the frame to engage and hold pipe bowls of various sizes upright in proper relation to receive the tool for the grinding operation.

15. A grinding device comprising a frame; a threaded shank carrying a cutter blade upon one end; a threaded bushing rotatably mounted in the frame and through which the tool shank is threaded; means for locking the threaded sleeve to the frame to hold it against rotation or to free it for rotation in the frame; a reduction gearing mounted in the frame and connected to the tool shank for slowly rotating the shank to advance it during the grinding operation when the sleeve is locked said gearing locking the shank against rotation independently of the gearing whereby the rotation of the sleeve will move the shank axially toward and from the pipe bowl without rotating it; and manually operable clamping means carried by the frame to engage and hold pipe bowls in proper relation to the tool for the grinding operation.

16. A grinding device comprising a frame; a threaded shank carrying an adjustable cutter upon one end; a threaded bushing rotatably mounted in the frame and through which the tool shank is threaded; means for locking the threaded sleeve to the frame to hold it against rotation or to free it for rotation in the frame; a reduction gearing mounted in the frame and connected to the tool shank for slowly rotating the shank to advance it during the grinding operation when the sleeve is locked, said gearing locking the shank against rotation independently of the gearing, whereby the rotation of the sleeve will move the shank axially toward and from the pipe bowl without rotation; and manually operable adjustable clamping means carried by the frame to engage and hold pipe bowls of various sizes in proper relation to the tool for the grinding operation.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aifix my signature.

WILLIAM R. DAVIS. 

